Form op building-bricks



UNTE STATES PATENT OFFRE.

EDGAR GONKLING, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FORM OF BUILDING-BRICKS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 14,052, dated January 8, 1856.

To all whom t may concern:

Bt it known that I, EDGAR OONKLING, of Cincinnati, I-Iamilton county,Ohio, have invented a new and useful Form of Brick; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part ofthis specification.

The nature of my invention consists, in a form of brick that affordsimproved facilities for grouting one or several courses of brick afterlaying; and enables the bricks to be laid either wholly without the useof a trowel, or with mortar courses so thinly spread, as to exclude thedisintegrating action of the weather, and thus to attain greaterstrength and durability, and aneater and more lasting nish.

In the annexed drawings Figure l is a perspective view of one of mybricks viewed at its inner edge. Fig. 2 represents perspectively afragment or portion of walling on my plan of construction, some of theinner tiers being removed to expo-se more clearly the internalarrangement, especially as regards facility for grouting. Fig. 3represents an inner elevation of an outer tier. Fig. t is a top view ofa port-ion of walling constructed with my bricks.

(a) represents a brick of customary external dimensions, formed on myimproved plan namely, with a pair of cavities or depressions b) in eachtop and bottom surface; these depressions communicate with a cove ornotch (c) left in the inner edge of the brick in the act of molding. The

squared surface level of the brick, on the top and bottom respectivelyconsists in each case, of a rib (d e f), skirting the front and each endand crossing the middle so as to present the figure of the let-ter E.The central rib (f) should be twice the width of either of the skirtribs (CZ e); thus, where the latter in a usual sized brick wall are oneinch wide, the former should be two inches wide. The depressions (b maydeepen toward the side rib if preferred, in order to serve the doublepurpose of facilitating the flow of cement and enhancing its service asa bond.

A course of bricks being laid in double tiers as at A (Figs. 2 and 4)another and similar course B, is laid thereon so as to break the jointsof the former course, that is so that the contiguous end ribs rest uponand occupy in each instance the mid rib free communication with thoseabove and below by means of the side covings (C).

After several courses of bricks have been laid, properly preparedgrouting is poured into the upper cavities, and from them descendsthrough the vertical covings to those below.

The consistence of the grouting must be such as that while it will flowreadily into the cavities, it shall not be ableto escape through theclosely fitting joints between the squared surfaces ofthe bricks.

The natural tendency to absorption and consolidation of those portionsof the grouting which come in contact with the brick will make thisresult easily attainable, while any intervals that may occur from slightirregularities of bearing surfaces will become filled up by thegrouting, and thus a complete and uniform bearing be afforded throughoutthe joints of the structure.

It will be seen that the marginal and central ribs afford an aggregatebearing of solid masonry, nearly equal to two-thirds of the whole faceof the brick, and presenting a firm and reliable bearing, free from thesett-ling which takes place with mortar courses. A heading course C, maybe introduced as an additional bond at proper intervals. A modificationof this form of brick may be employed, in which the cavities (I) b) areconfined to the under side, the upper side being molded plain, so as toadapt it when laid to receive a slight bed of mortar, as a bed for thenext course above, the bricks of which, bearing by their salient ridgesonly, are easily pressed down and squared to their t-rue bearing, evenin a very thin bed of mortar. The cavities o when existing only on thelower side are sunk to double the represented depth.

The plan heretofore proposed of bricks having holes running verticallythrough them, which being in the construction of the wall brought overeach other afford continuous vertical tubes into which the mortar' beingtrue acts feebly like dowel pins in holding the bricks together, isimpracticable from the following causes: Mortar such as commonlyemployed acts with efficiency only in a stratum or course appliedbetween the bricks, with large areas of adhesion on opposite sides inproportion to the thickness of the stratum. If run down through thesubstance of the brick, the portion within the brick can be of noappreciable service as a bond; and the portion which crosses the seamwould be liable to transverse rupr ture if the mortar or cement were ofany kind in ordinary use by builders. Such perforations if of smallcaliber would clog with any grouting sufciently'stiff not to ooze outthrough the external joints, and if of large caliber, would subtract toomuch from the horizontal bearing and cohering surfaces of the bricks. ByVrny plan, the whole of the grouting passages being between the bricks,their walls are formed by the very surfaces which are required to becemented together, and the grouting being applied in as thin and widelyspread layers as practicable and everywhere to large adhering areas ofthe contiguous bricks is presented in the most favorable manner foreffectively cementing the parts of the wall together.

The marginal ridges are useful as affording a square bearing and servingto confine the cement, and the depressions (while they do not lessen theadhering surfaces) enable the grouting to penetrate easily into and fillthe joints. I therefore disclaim forming bricks with holes runningvertically through them such having been proposed in the English patentof Caleb Hitchbut I claim as new and of my invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

I claim as new and of my invention the brick as described, havingmarginal ribs (d e) skirting three sides; and a central rib (f) acrossthe middle of the bottom surface (or of the top and bottom surfacesthereof) said ribs inclosing cavities (b b) adapted for the reception ofgrouting; in combination with coving on the inner edge, affordingpassage for the grouting from above, to the cavities (b b) below thebricks; or devices substantially equivalent.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand before two subscribingwitnesses.

EDGAR CONKLING.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, J. B. BENNETT.

